Transparency is an indispensable ingredient in good governance. State lawmakers, entrusted by their constituents to allocate tax dollars and craft public policy, should conduct their business openly and in dialogue with even the most vociferous critics.
The Times editorial board can offer no endorsement for position 1 in the first district, which includes Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Kenmore and Woodinville. The decision is based on Rep. Davina Duerr’s betrayal of those transparency values, for two reasons.
First, despite multiple attempts to schedule a time to talk to the board, Duerr declined to do so. She mentioned being out of town on one occasion, and taking a new job on another, as reasons she couldn’t make the time.
The board was prepared to question the Bothell Democrat on numerous issues of profound state importance. For example: Duerr has spearheaded mandates aimed at lowering carbon emissions in the state, including at landfills and within buildings. She worked to add climate change to the list of considerations planners must follow to adhere to Washington’s Growth Management Act. She fulfills an important legislative role.
The editorial board has been critical of several state lawmakers this year who failed to demonstrate leadership in a number of ways. But those legislators still showed up to take the questions. Duerr couldn’t even muster that level of accountability.
Editorial board members wonder if constituents are denied time with a candidate too busy to take questions.
Secondly, in her last endorsement interview, Duerr gave a disappointing answer to a question on legislative privilege, the legal theory that some lawmakers have used to hide emails and correspondence from the public.
She said she’d invoked the privilege “only” when CC’d on emails to other lawmakers and on staff conversations “about how I might approach legislation on various topics,” including deliberations with the state building code council.
In short, Duerr has shown a contempt for transparent lawmaking. The board cannot endorse a candidate with such a record.
Duerr has also exercised questionable judgment as a legislator. Following passage of a 2023 bill to make it easier to build accessory dwelling units, she used her house key card to get into a senate office to seek a clipboard of signatures required for the bill’s approval in that chamber. She was caught, apologized but lost her privileges to Senate-controlled facilities.
Duerr’s opponent is Republican Maggie Wang, a small-business owner who advocates for lower taxes and cutting state spending. But the board fundamentally disagrees with Wang’s positive assessment of President Donald Trump’s presidency, which threatens America’s enduring system of government.
The editorial board declines to endorse either candidate in the race.
